Specific opportunities at MSU are at the bottom of the page.

• PFLAG has $5,000 scholarahips, $2,500 scholarships and $1,000 scholarships available. Go to their site and navigate to Education & Programs, then to the National Scholarships page. Local chapters may also have scholarships available.
• PFLAG Detroit is offering two $500 scholarships to a person straight or LBGT who has shown support for LBGT individuals or programs and is going to attend or is attending a college or any higher form of eduction.  Recipient must live in Oakland, Wayne, or Macomb Counties. All applications and referrals can be submitted here
• The Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice lists a number of grants to individuals on their website.
• More sources for financial aid, scholarships and grants.

This is your source for current information on the three scholarships available specifically to students at Michigan State University who are committed to LBGT communities. You may also wish to visit the Office of Admissions scholarships page, which includes a link to the MSU Searchable Scholarship Database, and the McNair/SROP scholars program.

Recipients and giving

The Pride Scholarship was first awarded in 2000. The Stephen P. Pougnet and Christopher J. Green Endowed Scholarship was awarded for the first time in 2008.

If you would like to contribute to one of the scholarship funds, please contact Development Officer Jennifer Bertram at 517-353-0007 ( bertram9@msu.edu ).

Deadlines and procedures

All scholarships have the same deadline and easy application procedure. The application deadline for 2012 is 5:00 pm on Friday, March 30. The application information is later on this page, following the description of the scholarships. You may submit materials via email or US Mail. Please see details below or on the application process page.

The Pride Scholarship was founded in 2000 by Bill Beachler, MSU Alumnus, and GLFSA, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Faculty Staff and Graduate Student Association of Michigan State University. This is one of only a handful of such scholarships offered by U.S. universities.

Preference is given to an incoming, first year (or transfer) student, though all undergraduate students are encouraged to apply. In 2000, the scholarship awarded was $500; it has since grown to a reward of between $3,000 and $5,000, with further growth expected. The award is given to an MSU undergraduate student selected through a competitive application process. Candidates should demonstrate academic achievement and involvement with, or contributions to, the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

The Stephen P. Pougnet and Christopher J. Green Endowed Scholarship, with a value between $2,000 and $5,000, is awarded to a currently enrolled student of junior or senior standing (preference is given to students enrolled in The Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University). Candidates must demonstrate academic excellence and involvement with or contributions to LGBT communities.

Stephen and Christopher decided to establish this scholarship because of their desire to help students in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and/or transgender community at MSU and to inspire these students to have the confidence to succeed in their professional careers. Stephen Pougnet graduated from MSU with a BA in 1985 from the Eli Broad College of Business. He is currently the mayor of the City of Palm Springs, California, where he also develops and sells real estate. Christopher Green graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a BA in Business Administration in 1982 and a BS in Nursing in 1985; he also received an MBA from the University of Colorado in 1998. He currently works in sales and marketing for AMGEN, Inc.

The application procedure is the same for both of these scholarships. You may request to be considered for any or all of the scholarships with only one application. Please note that each scholarship is targeted at students with specific experiences, but all applications will be reviewed.

Please follow the application process to submit the following information:

• Your relevant personal information (you will fill this out on the scholarship application form)
• Your resume
• If you are new to MSU, please scan and send a copy of your most recent academic transcript, or have one sent to the address below. (If you are a returning MSU student, no transcript is required.)
• An essay explaining why you are seeking one of these scholarships and your relevant experience in light of the above descriptions of the scholarships. You may mention, but need not prove, financial need. The essay should be 500 – 1,000 words in length; two to three pages. You may want to consider touching on these topics:
  • Ways in which having this scholarship will help you to achieve your academic and life goals.
  • Previous involvement with LBGT activities in school or in the broader community.
  • Ways in which you consider yourself to be an activist or agent for social change.
  • Involvement that includes multiple identities or oppressions, for example, LBGT communities and People of Color communities.
  • Obstacles or challenges you have faced and overcome in relation to your LBGT involvement or activism.

Remember, your scholarship is not complete until we receive your scholarship application form, resume, and essay. Please be sure to submit them by the deadline, Friday, March 30, 2012 at 5 PM. If you have any questions, please give us a call (517-353-9520) or send us an email: gonyocla@msu.edu (please use the word “scholarship” in the subject line). You may submit materials via email  to gonyocla@msu.edu or by us mail to:
LBGT Resource Center
302 Student Services
Michigan State University
East Lansing MI 48824-1113